MAGICAL LEGACY OF RACE
The 33rd edition of the classic is on today, building on a strong history since the inaugural event in 1987
THE Gold Coast Magic Millions is the race that stops the city and has produced champions for more than 30 years.
The famed 2YO Classic will run this afternoon at the Gold Coast Turf Club, with horses sold at last year’s yearling sales battling it out for a $2 million purse.
It comes 33 years after the inaugural race in January 1987 when the event, then known as the Magic Million, was won by Snippets, who was trained by local Sally Rogers (now Keay).
It took a further 23 years before another Gold Coasttrained horse won the race.
Military Rose, trained by Gillian Heinrich, won the 2010 event and its $1.2 million first prize.
Houtzen, trained by Toby Edmonds, became the third Coast-trained winner in 2017.
A year after Snippets’ win, the second Magic Millions was surrounded by controversy when the first horse past the post lost on protest.
Prince Regent (20-1) crossed the line first just in front of Molokai Prince (10-1) after a bumping battle in the final 150m of the race.
But the real fireworks came after the race when Molokai Prince’s jockey, Ron Quinton, lodged a protest over interference caused by Prince Regent, who was ridden by John Marshall.
“When I accelerated clear in the straight the only horse to come after me was the eventual winner,’’ Quinton told stewards. “When Prince Regent came from behind we bumped a couple of times and we brushed when level.
“Molokai Prince is a big horse and it cost me momentum.
“He was off balance and it took him a few strides to recover.’’
Stewards looked at multiple replays of the event, including several head-on videos. Marshall argued he had not been at fault and that any interference was minor.
“We brushed but straight away I pulled him off and put the whip away. It was only a slight brush,’’ he said.
After an exhaustive inquiry, the stewards upheld the protest and Molokai Price and Ron Quinton were declared the winners.
Following the announcement, Molokai Prince’s trainer Neville Begg spoke to Prince Regent’s trainer Kelso Wood.
“I hate protests at any time, but I have a responsibility to the owners in such a major race as this,’’ Begg said.
After the race, the people most pleased by the result were the bookmakers, because neither Molokai Prince nor Prince Regent had been favoured by punters.
Molokai Prince, who later went to stud, lived a long life before his death in July 1997. He sired 249 foals and 109 winners during eight seasons at stud.
The 33rd Magic Millions will be run this weekend.